Open/Mingle - Roll Call.

[collegedropout]

Who: Sam, and you, and anyone; tis a mingle of sorts.
Broadcast: Fleetwide.
Action: SS Bloodsport, if you wanna find him.
When: After the planet is struck - Sept 22nd.

Note: Feel free to tag each other and inform everyone of whatever you need to, post-planetary explosion! I'll tag here and there, but consider it more of a mingle for people to touch bases about casualities and making sure people know they're okay (or if someone's injured.)

[Sam sits, triumphant in their mission but also defeated in spirit. Because yeah, they got the ship off the planet, and there's a whole civilization of people who get out of there... but he also is already too aware there is at least one fatality on their end already. Looma's last broadcast had been expected, especially after she'd sent him a warning beacon as the meteor pressed down into the planet's atmosphere, speeding, ready to smash the thing to pieces without effort.

Looma at least faced her death as one would expect, for her people. He imagines they would be proud.

Still, he sounds deflated at the thought, as he speaks a more leveled and straightforward response:]


... We've lost Captain Looma, of the SS Bishop. Umm... for what it's worth, she did it on her terms. I'm sorry.


[He's carried out the task of divvying up the blood from the blood drive, in case anyone from any particular ship needs it; there've been some injuries from shrapnel and citizen unrest, he's pretty sure. That's about all he can do, now, other than check in on the gardens... make sure Fie's work is continued alongside her, because it's important to keep those plants alive and thriving.

He slumps a little in weariness, sighing at his desk where he sits on the SS Bloodsport.]


... Role call?


Who's, um. Who's missing?

Comments

[outstandingbalance]

We are happy. If that's what you want to know.

[uprightness]

I already know.

[ he says with a bit of a smile ]

and I'm happy for you. You don't have to tell me anything beyond that.

[outstandingbalance]

Well. Glad to know you're not going to go digging for details about my sex life. You'll have to get that from Barnes.

[More teasing, in an attempt to lighten the mood. She's not sure how she feels about admitting this to Steve. It had been easy to answer Wrath when she asked. In a weird way, her attitude had made the conversation seem natural. Peggy had been... not really an admission.

It's kind of nice. Like a weight off her chest. On the other hand, it feels very exposed.

And maybe a little too real, especially after how things went with Bruce.]

That's how it works with boys, isn't it?

[uprightness]

I don't really care about that. That you can keep to yourself.

[ honestly. he does smile, shakes his head at her question. ]

He told me nothing. I'm not going to ask him. It's just like with you, he'll talk to me about it when he's ready. I won't push. What's yours is yours, I can respect that. Privacy.

[outstandingbalance]

You know... I'm not saying to pry. I appreciate having that space. But this is—

[Natasha cuts off, sighing. She doesn't know how much she really wants to admit. Especially if it's not about her.]

It's come a lot further than I expected. I didn't not mention it because I wasn't comfortable with you. I didn't mention it because it didn't occur to me. I don't think either of us really remember how to be open about some things.

[So what Natasha is saying is that it's them, not Steve. And maybe that Steve shouldn't expect Bucky to think of mentioning it the way he would have in the 40s.]

[uprightness]

Hey.

[ he reaches for her hand again. he offers her a bit of a smile. ]

You can always talk to me and you can also choose not to. It's okay. I just want you to know I'm always here to listen, just in case.

[outstandingbalance]

[She returns the gestures, though for the moment she doesn't make eye contact. She didn't mean to make that about her—didn't want it to be about her.]

I just meant that it might take a while for Barnes to think about mentioning something like that. He might just... not.

[Natasha has at least had some time to adapt to the idea of openly having a personal life, at least among friends. For Bucky, it's a lot newer.]

[uprightness]

And I'll be okay if he doesn't.

[ this doesn't matter, not if they're happy in their own...secretive way. ]

I guess I'll just have to keep gossiping with Peggy.

[outstandingbalance]

The two of you are a couple of old hens. I hope you know that.

[Natasha smiles a little as she says that, leaning back.]

I hope you're doing it while you cuddle. After sex. Just laying there gossiping like a couple of grandmothers.

[uprightness]

I don't even know what to say to that.

[ you know what - ]

we're changing the subject. go on.

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha takes a drink of her vodka, smiling. At least she knows she can always win some games of chicken.]

You're the one who wants to change the subject. What do you want to change it to?

[uprightness]

Anything appropriate at all -

[ seriously nat :|| ]

[outstandingbalance]

You know me better than that.

[She thinks her conversation was completely appropriate.

And a lot more comfortable than talking about the fact she'd been thinking of Sokovia, remembering how ready she'd been to die there.]

[uprightness]

Do I?

[ oh lord. ]

you've never taken that amount of interest in my relationship before.

[outstandingbalance]

I'm not asking for the blow by blow details, Rogers. I'm just saying, I'd like to think the two of you are still being nosy old gossips during your post-coital snuggling. It's cute.

[Also.]

Don't pretend I haven't been interested in getting you laid before.

[uprightness]

We are not talking about -

[ hold on! jhghg ]

I'm not even going to go there.

[outstandingbalance]

You had the chance to change the subject. You didn't.

[uprightness]

Only because I think it's weird that you hope to be a topic of conversation during - well - you know.

[ good grief. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Not during. After. That is a very important difference, Rogers.

[uprightness]

Romanoff, I like you a lot but no.

[ oh hell, but he's actually amused. ]

it doesn't make a difference and the answer is no.

[outstandingbalance]

Oh, it makes a huge difference. I definitely don't want you talking about me and Barnes during. Peggy may punch you if you try.

After, you can get away with it.

[uprightness]

No, I really can't.

[ nevermind that he'll never!! wow! ]

[outstandingbalance]

[Rude. Natasha would gossip about Steve after sex. :(]

This raises some serious questions about what you consider appropriate cuddle conversation.

[uprightness]

For a start, nothing about other people.

[ he has no idea why he's humoring this line of conversation, really. ]</small

[outstandingbalance]

So why not?